Imaginary Proportions

I do not own Death Note, nor its characters.

Chapter One: of princesses and best friends

Light never gave much thought to Ryuzaki. He came, he went, he existed. If others did not see him, it did not so much faze Light. He could see Ryuzaki, even if the others were distastefully blind to him.

Sitting down next to Ryuzaki, Light looked up at the strange man with a sort of expression most adults had, not one children often adopted. Light had seen his father take on this expression before when looking at criminals on the TV. It was one of quiet observation, where Light would stare at Ryuzaki and Ryuzaki would stare at Light, both of them thinking of the other one's strange behaviors.

Light handed his purchase to Ryuzaki, who gingerly took it with his thumb and forefinger. He looked at it, a book Light had bought from the store on the corner, the one where they would sometimes hide and read aloud to each other. He stared at the beaten cover of the book, confused as to why Light, of all people, had chosen it.

A book of faire tales.

"I want you to read it to me." Light stared up at Ryuzaki, who took the book and opened it carefully. He was used to being ordered by the seven year old genius to read books to him, even though they both knew well and good that Light could in fact read. He'd read murder mysteries, classic literature, and the occasional romance novel, if Light was feeling particular that day, but never had the boy asked him to read such a rudimentary sort of writing. He sucked tiredly on his lollipop, looking down at the young child.

"I want you to read it to me, the one with the princess who falls asleep. That one please Ryuzaki."

Another first for Light, saying please when telling Ryuzaki what to do. Ryuzaki nodded and turned the pages of the book until he reached the story Light had asked for. A elegant illustration of a young woman, asleep, with red lips, ivory skin, and ebony hair that cascaded down her slim form, which was covered by golden sheets. A rose was tucked between her fingers and her face was one of innocence. The words on the page next to it were big and curled, as faire tales often are. Ryuzaki cleared his throat and slowly but surely, his voice, deep and tender, formed the story which he read.

"Once upon a time, there was a king and queen who could bear no children…"

There they sat, Light scooted close to Ryuzaki, who sat crouched over the book, and there they both listened to the story. People passed them, staring at the strange sight. They were so blind, seeing only a little boy huddled next to a book open on the bench, his eye closed and head up, listening to story that wasn't there, at least not to them.

It was there for Light.


"Let's have a tea party."

Light was very in to making announcements like that. Loudly proclaiming what he and Ryuzaki were to do next. Proudly, like he was about everything he did.

Ryuzaki nodded and allowed Light to sit him in one of the chairs at the table, still sitting as he always did, gripping his teacup between his thumb and forefinger. Light poured tea into his cup, freshly made (Light was an excellent cook for only seven) and gave him a cookie, because he knew Ryuzaki preferred his tea with a sweet of some sort. Then he would sit across from him and pick up his tea daintily, sipping from it like a well-bred little lady, which was what Light acted like very often. Ryuzaki bit into his cookie, crumbs falling everywhere and sticking all over his mouth.

Light rolled his eyes and raised his napkin to Ryuzaki's lips, wiping from his face the crumbs in a motherly fashion. Ryuzaki smiled and nodded his thanks to the little child, who solemnly returned his napkin to his lap. He let slip a turn of his lips that if looked at from the correct angle would resemble a smile, but Ryuzaki had seen to many a time this child smile in ways that were not seen by others. He lifted his tea cup as Light lifted his, and clinked it to the other's cup.

"Light?"

Light turned his head to see his mother's worried face there, staring at him and Ryuzaki.

"What are you doing?"

Light looked at his mother with a face of complete seriousness, placing his cup down and glaring at her.

"I'm having tea with Ryuzaki."

She twisted her apron and nodded at her son's answer. She looked over at the seat that Ryuzaki, only seeing an empty seat with crumbs around it. Light turned to Ryuzaki and whispered.

"She simply can't see you."

Ryuzaki nodded and looked over at Light's mother. The others never could see him. When he had first begun it had frustrated him, but now he was used to it by now. It wasn't as bad with Light's parents, they were very accepting of his presence in Light's life, although they worried about how long he would be Light's only friend. Light had trouble making friends because of his genius mind and feminine preferences in costumes and games. It was no secret to Ryuzaki his charge's sexuality, though he wondered sometimes of what Light's parents would say when their son finally figured himself out and told them. He regretted he wouldn't be there to see it.

He looked up to see Light's mother had left and that Light was staring sadly down at his shoes. They were sparkly pink heels that he'd stolen from his sister and under them were Light's usual plain white socks. His hair hung with his head and Ryuzaki felt like something might've been wrong.

"She says that I need to go get dressed in my other clothes, father is coming home."

His tea cup trembled and he forced himself to smile and turn to Ryuzaki.

"Let's have the tea party in my room!"

Ryuzaki was sad when Light had to force a smile, because his real emotions were nicer than his faked ones. He didn't understand why the young child felt the need fake happiness around him, he knew well enough the rage and emotional lows of Light Yagami. It was, of course, the job of the imaginary to be the friend of young children who did not have friends otherwise.

He would be even sadder when he'd have to leave Light.


Light and Ryuzaki talked about everything. They would lie on their backs in Light's room, looking up at the glowing stars stuck on Light's ceiling, Light in usually a floaty sort of pink dress (because that was the best kind) and his beloved sparkly heels, Ryuzaki in his usual jeans and white shirt. They would discuss many important topics, because they were Important and Intelligent People and that was what those sort of people did. It go as follows:

Light: When I get married, I'm going to wear my sparkly heels. I'll be the prettiest one there you know.

Ryuzaki: But what about the lady you are going to marry?

Light: Oh, I suppose she'll wear them too. If I don't find my Prince Charmin' first. He'll have to be okay with my sparkly heels. Of course, he might even wear them too, you know Ryuzaki.

Ryuzaki : I see. If you find your Prince Charmin', will that make you a princess?

Light: Yes, I suppose, but I'm already a princess you know.

Ryuzaki: You are?

Light: Oh yes, I've always been one. You see, I'm just pretending to be a boy so that when I find my Prince Charmin', everyone will be surprised when I reveal that I'm really a princess and then they will all be very sad for all the times they made fun of me. And then me and my Prince Charmin' will run off to a castle and all that.

Ryuzaki: What about me?

Light: Oh, you'll come with me. You can be the ring bearer or something important like. You see, my Prince Charmin' might be very boring to talk to, so I might need you to talk to me. My Prince Charmin' will also have to see you.

Ryuzaki: I see.

Light: Yes, because I don't want to be a lonely princess.

After a great deal of discussion, Light would often nod off half way through the conversation, leaning his head on Ryuzaki's shoulder. Ryuzaki would then have to pick him up and carry him over to his bed, laying him down so that his dress didn't get rumpled. He would stroke his hair and lean down so that he could whisper softly into his ear:

"Sweet dreams little princess."


And then he would kiss gently Light's forehead and disappear, as that was how things went.

It was the first day of school and Light was painfully lonely. He frowned. No one on the bus wanted to talk to him, he had to sit up at the front because his house was the first stop, and, worst of all, he had a nasty peanut butter sandwich in his lunch box, which had a cat on it and he'd already been told twice that cats were for girls. He sat there, looking out the window and felt like crying. He didn't want to have no friends, but there weren't very many kids he really wanted to talk to. They were all so…he looked over at the other chattering young children.

He sniffed. So very plain, so very boring. He pouted and crossed his arms. He missed Ryuzaki.

"Light-kun needs to talk to other people besides me."

Light quickly turned his head and looked up at the hunching man next to him. His lips turned up into what could be considered a smile, if it were looked at in the right light. He quickly gripped Ryuzaki's hand with his own and commenced telling Ryuzaki all about his troubles.

"They won't talk to me Ryuzaki. They think I'm too mean or too girly. I hate them Ryuzaki. I hate them all, because they're so mean and won't talk to me and called my lunch box…" here Light was on the brink of tears and whispered the word, "gay."

Ryuzaki noticed Light's distress and placed a hand on the boy's head. Light looked up at Ryuzaki, his eyes brimming with tears, and Ryuzaki wiped away the tears from his face. He then placed a finger to his lips to tell Light to quiet his voice, as the other children were beginning to stare. He patted Light on the head and spoke softly.

"It does not matter what the say Light-kun. Remember, you are not like them. You are a princess and princesses are always loved by others. They just haven't discovered you yet."

Light nodded and tightened his grip on Ryuzaki's hand, his fingers twining with the other's digit. He bit his lips and forced a smile. He looked up at Ryuzaki and leaned his head on Ryuzaki's shoulder.

"Maybe I'll find my Prince Charmin'."

Ryuzaki nodded. Maybe he would.


It was Light's eighth birthday and his father was working. He sat up in his room, waiting for Ryuzaki to show up so that they could play dress up, but Ryuzaki was taking an awfully long time to show up. Eventually the gangly man did appear and played for a bit with Light, telling him a happy birthday and all that. But today he had something to tell Light, some awful, terrible news.

"I'm afraid that I have to leave Light-kun."

Light stopped his playing and looked at Ryuzaki.

"Leave? Like on a holiday?"

"No. Like forever."

Light bit his lip. Forever was a rather long time.

"Why?"

"Because that is the rules. I must leave you so that you can make new friends. Light-kun will be fine."

Light was silent for a minute and then pouted and crossed his arms.

"I don't want to make new friends."

"Light-kun will have to. I can't stay forever."

Light narrowed his eyes and looked as though he were fighting tears.

"But I don't want to make new friends. I want you, not any of those other children. They're mean and hate me. They don't want to be my friends and I don't want to be theirs."

"Light-kun is acting rash about this."

Light turned to Ryuzaki and his usually serene, pretty face twisted into an awful sulk.

"If you have to leave, why don't you just leave? I don't want to be with you if you're not going to be my friend."

"It was not my decision Light-kun. I did not think you ready for this and…"

"Well I am. Just go. Leave me alone."

Now Light had begun to cry and when Ryuzaki reached out to wipe away the tears, he pushed his hand away.

"Just go." His little voice became steely and cold and Ryuzaki nodded and disappeared.

With that, Light threw himself on his bed and sobbed for his whole birthday. His mother tried to come in and get him downstairs for cake and his sister tried to give him a present, but he refused both of them. He was not in the mood, I suppose, but no one would be after your best friend left you.

His father did not arrive at the house until Light was fast asleep.


The next morning, Light gathered all his dress up things and put them in a box. His dress, hats, jewelry, and even his pretty sparkly heels. He gave the box to his mother and when n his mother asked why he wasn't going to have them anymore, he said quietly;

"I'm, I'm, I'm much too old for them. Sayu can have them. That's what they should be right, girl clothes…"

Light forced a smile and looked up at his mother before turning swiftly. He walked back upstairs and slammed his bedroom door, his mother holding the box of discarded dress up things wondering what had happened.

"Hey Ryuzaki?"

"Yes Light?"

"If I don't find my Prince Charmin', you can marry me okay?"

"Why me?"

"Because you're my best friend. So if I marry you, we can still be friends. We'll just be friends who kiss."

"As you wish little princess."


the end of chapter one: of princesses and best friends


A.N. Okay, this is an idea that has been swirling around in my head for a while now, but I really got the plot all fitted after I read one of the best books ever, 'Sundays at Tiffany's' by James Patterson. Lovely book, highly recommend it.

Plus I just love little Light anyways. "I'm going to get married in sparkly heels." I just can't read that without saying "AWWWWWWWWWWWWW." Loudly.

Anyhoo, my songs for this are Mariella by Kate Nash and Kiss Me by Six Pence None the Richer.

(Heh, I quoted The Princess Bride. Fave movie ever. Inconceivable!)

Please review…